The Ironworker bends, cuts, lays out, places and welds reinforcing steel rods, welded wire fabric and composite materials in a wide variety of poured concrete products and structures such as towers, bridges, buildings, highways and stadiums. They also place and stress various post-tensioning systems in structures such as parking garages, bridges and stadiums where longer unsupported spans are required.

 

Ironworkers reinforcing straight reinforcing or unload fabricated materials and place it for hoisting as needed. The reinforcing material is usually pre-cut and fabricated off-site, so the ironworker is needed to cut and bend them according to design specifications and drawings. Ironworkers pre-assemble reinforcing material by laying it out and connecting sub-assemblies on the ground prior to final placement and organize the hoisting of the components by connecting slings and cables to the components and directing crane operators. They position, align and secure components according to schematics and drawings, using a variety of methods. After placing post-tensioning systems, they stress the tendons to predetermined specifications using hydraulic jacks and pumps.

 

They work in a variety of locations ranging from remote areas where they could work on bridges, dams or mining, to urban environments where they could work on high-rise buildings, parking garages, transit systems, tunnels or stadiums. Ironworkers work outdoors in various locations in all types of weather conditions. Ironworkers usually work in noisy, dusty, high heights and dangerous conditions. 

 

Industry Changes

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The Ironworker is constantly learning and updating their knowledge. As cranes and erecting procedures are becoming more sophisticated, the need for training is increasingly important. Updated knowledge in computer technology, metallurgy, concrete, stresses and tensioning and other areas associated with the engineering of Ironwork and crane equipment is beneficial to an Ironworker’s career and safety.

 

Due to technological advances in operator aids such as Load Moment Indicators (LMI) and erection, Ironworkers are more aware of their operation limitations to increase safety and production.

 

The Ironworker is becoming increasingly complex, so Ironworkers who have had educated training may find the most opportunities. Demand is also high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field.

Over the next five years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified technicians and the expected increased retirement rate in this trade over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

 

Experienced Ironworkers may advance to supervisory positions, trainers and start their own business.

 

Safety

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Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

 

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

 

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

Safety is the number one concern of Ironworkers, owners and contractors. Occupational hazards include injuries resulting from power line contact, crane overload, falls, weather conditions or manual lifting.

 

Ironworkers are required to take site-specific safety training to be familiar with the company, contractor and jobsite safety requirements. The regulatory environment in which Canada’s Ironworker and crane industry operations continues to grow with more complex issues such as due diligence and liability. 

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Job Tasks

• Adjusting loads

• Blowers

• Brakes

• Calculate crane capacities

• Computers

• Determine load weight

• Drilling

• Engine repair

• Electrical

• Erecting

• Exhaust Systems

• Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG)

• Generators

• Hydraulic jack or hoist

• Lifting loads

• Leaks

• Lubricating equipment and cranes

• Oxyacetylene Heating and Cutting

• Pre-operational Inspections

• Rigging & Fastening

• Routine maintenance

• Set up and dismantle cranes

• Valves

• Welding

• …and much more

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Air powered tools

• Aligning bar

• Allen keys

• Ball peen hammer

• Bar clamps

• Bolt Bag

• Bumping hammer

• Button pump

• Cable cutters

• Calculator

• Chains

• Combination square

• Come-alongs

• Crow bar

• Drill bits

• Electrical multi-meter

• Flashlights

• Grease gun

• Grinders

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Hickey bar

• Interior tools

• Knock out punches

• Knocker wrench

• Level

• Measuring tape

• Micrometers, calipers and thickness gauges

• Mini pipe cutters

• Needle nose pliers

• Oil Can

• Pipe bender

• Pipe wrench

• Pry bars

• Reel holder

• Rod bag

• Safety equipment(goggles, boots, face shield etc)

• Scales

• Scrapers

• Screw driver set

• Shovels

• Sledge hammer

• Sleever bar

• Socket set

• Sparking igniter

• Spud wrenches

• Stressing equipment

• Straight pick hammer

• Stud weld guns

• Tag lines

• Tie wire reel

• Tin snips

• Tire pressure gauge

• Tool belt

• Torches

• Vice grips

• Wrenches

• Wire rope

• Wire rope cutters

• Wire rope winder

• Wire strippers

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Ability to work at heights

• Analytical Thinking

• Critical Thinking

• Co-ordination

• Creativity

• Decision Making

• Good vision

• Good colour vision

• Lifting and hoisting

• Mechanical aptitude

• Manual dexterity

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Patience

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Use of hand signals

• Computer Knowledge

• ...and much more

 

General Wages

• Average -   $27.80

• Minimum - $23.20

• Maximum - $36.20

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Sample Q&A

 

1. What shielding gas gives deeper penetration, faster welding speeds and a narrow heat affected zone when using the GTAW process?

a. Hydrogen.

b. Argon/CO2 mixture.

c. Argon.

d. Helium.

Ans. D

 

2. Which of the following is used to describe the process of introducing internal forces or stress into a concrete or masonry element during the construction process in order to counteract the external loads applied when the structure is put into use known as service loads?

a. Pre-stressing

b. Gravity pulling

c. Post-tensioning

d. Post-stressing

Ans. A

 

3. When performing oxy-fuel cutting, what would excessive drag lines indicate?

a. Travel speed is too slow.

b. The cutting tip size is too large.

c. Travel speed is too fast.

d. The oxygen pressure is too high.

Ans. C

 

4. Which of the following factors should be considered in aligning and securing a tower base section?

a. shim elevation, anchor bolt projection, and size of anchor bolt

b. anchor bolt pattern, shim elevation, and size of nuts and washers

c. anchor bolt projection, size of anchor bolt, and size of nuts and washers

d. shim elevation, anchor bolt pattern, and size of anchor bolt

Ans. B

 

5. Which of the following is used with a crane to move a load horizontally?

a. snatch block

b. tag line

c. rollers

d. crane upper limit switch

Ans. A

 

6. Adding post-tensioned reinforcement instead of rebar alone combines the action of reinforcing the tension zones with the advantages of compressing what?

a. The reinforced steel

b. The concrete slab

c. The bolts

d. The rebar

Ans. B

 

7. Which of the following types of lift is used for a bundle of pipes?

a. choker

b. double wrap choker

c. 2 part bridle

d. vertical hitch

Ans. B